Anchor plate for fence posts



Sept. 24, 1935. c w MEYERS 2,@15,433

ANCHOR PLATE FOR FENCE POSTS Filed March 22, 1954 *3 Met CARL W- NEVERattorneys Patented Sept. 24, 1935 PATENT OFFICE ANCHOR PLATE FOR FENCEPOSTS Carl W. Meyers, Youngstown, Ohio, assignor to Republic SteelCorporation, Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey 7 ApplicationMarch 22, 1934, Serial No. 716,795

8 Claims.

This invention relates to metal fence posts broadly, and is particularlyconcerned with an improved anchoring construction for such posts.

It is of advantage to apply an anchor plate to a metal fence postwithout welding or employing rivets in the process of securing the plateto the post, since in the case of spot welding there is the uncertaintyof getting a good weld and in fusion welding the danger of weakening thesteel adjacent the weld due to localized heating and cooling, while inthe case of riveting there is a tendency towards weakening of thestructure by the formation of rivet holes and ofttimes the rivet headsare inferior and cause the plate to loosen on the post. an anchor plateto a metal fence post without the use of auxiliary fastening means andby a process which will leave the post free of weakening strainsadjacent the plate and at the same time result in an attachment which ispermanent and resists tendency towards loosening when the post is beingdriven into the ground and during subsequent service; and it is theobject of the present invention to accomplish these results in a mannerwhich has marked advantages in simplicity and economy.

In the drawing-- Figure l is a View in front elevation of a metal fencepost having an anchor plate applied thereto in accordance withthefeatures of the. invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 2--2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary View in side elevation taken adjacentthe anchor plate portion of the post; and

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of said portion with the plate omitted.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the post, in its preferred form,comprises a face plate 5 and an integral web 6, it being understood thatthe particular contour of the face plate and web may be varied withincertain limits without departing from the scope of the invention. Itwill be noted that the face plate 5 of the fence post illustrated in thedrawing comprises flanges 5a and 5b angularly disposed on opposite sidesof the web 6 and which merge into a straight marginal portion.

In the lower region of the post, a slot 1 is formed transversely throughthe web 6 adjacent the face plate 5. An anchor plate 8, which ispreferably of wedge-shaped contour, is inserted in the slot 1 andcrimped or pressed inwardly over that portion of the web which liesbetween the slot and face plate and is pressed snugly against thelatter.

The problem, then, is to apply It is preferred to heat the plate andpress or stamp it in place while the post is cold. This facilitates thepressing or stamping operation and ensures a tight fit since the plateis in efiect shrunk on the post. greater than the thickness of theanchor plate 8 and when the latter is formed to grip the web 6, flanges5a and 5b the central region of that portion of the plate disposedwithin the confines of the slot fits snugly against the front wall ofthe slot 1. The marginal edges of this portion of the anchor plate arebent rearwardly, causing the plate at this point to take an arcuateshape. These edges engage the rear wall of the slot adjacent theextremities thereof and preclude any relative lateral movement betweenthe anchor plate and the slot.

' The walls of the slot 1 in conjunction with the grip resulting fromthe crimping operation ensure a rigid association of the anchor platewith the post at all times. The slot 1 is close to the neutral axis ofthe post so that it does not materially weaken the latter, and since thepost is not heated after its original formation, there are no localizedstrains set up due to a welding or other operation involving heatadjacent the point of attachment of the anchor plate. It is almostimpossible to dislodge the anchor plate, due to the fact that it is heldagainst displacement at all points along its length and from everyangle, a construction which is far superior to those where outstrucktongues, rivets or analogous means are used to fasten the plate to thepost.

It will be understood that certain modifications in structure may beadopted within the scope of 35 the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A fence post comprising a metal bar having a face plate provided witha longitudinally extending depressed portion and a reinforcing web 40projecting at substantially right angles therefrom, said web beingformed with a longitudinal slot in the lower region of the post, and ananchor plate positioned in said slot and depressed on each side thereofto conform to the contour 45 of the face plate.

2. A fence post comprising a metal bar having a face plate and areinforcing web projecting at substantially right angles therefrom, saidweb being formed with a longitudinal slot in the lower region of thepost, spaced from the junction between the face plate and the web and ananchor plate positioned in said slot and formed to grip that portion ofthe web which lies between the slot and face plate. 55

The width of the slot 1 is 5 3. A fence post comprising an elongatedmetal bar having a face plate and a reinforcing web projecting atsubstantially right angles therefrom, said web being formed with alongitudinal slot in the lower region of the post spaced from thejunction between the face plate and the web, and an anchor platepositioned in said slot and clamped against opposite sides of thatportion of the web which lies between the slot and said face plate andpressed against the surface of said latter plate.

4. A fence post comprising an elongated metal bar having a face plateand a reinforcing web projecting at substantially right anglestherefrom, the face plate on opposite sides of the web lying in aninclined plane, said web being formed with a transverse slot in thelower region of the post, and an anchor plate positioned in said slotand pressed inwardly against said face plate and crimped over thatportion of the web which lies between the slot and said latter plate.

5. A fence post comprising an elongated metal bar having a face plateand a slotted reinforcing web projecting -at substantially right anglestherefrom, an anchor plate disposed in said slot and crimped over aportion of said web and bearing against the surface of said face plate,said anchor plate being so disposed within the slot as to engage theopposite walls thereof and prevent dislodgment of the anchor platetransversely with respect to the post.

6. A fence post comprising a metal bar having a face plate and areinforcing web projecting at substantially right angles therefrom, saidweb being formed with a transverse slot in the lower region of the post,an anchor plate extending through said slot and so positioned thereinthat the central region of that portion of the plate within the confinesof the slot engages one wall of the slot and the extremities of saidportion engages the opposite wall adjacent the ends of the slot.

'7. A fence post comprising a metal bar having a face plate and areinforcing web portion projecting at substantially right anglestherefrom, said web being formed with a transverse slot in the lowerregion of the post, and an anchor plate positioned in the slot in such amanner as to engage the opposite walls of the slot at spaced points,

8. A fence post comprising a longitudinal metal bar substantiallyY-shaped in cross section, the web of the Y joining. the two divergingsides being formed with a longitudinal slot, an anchor plate positionedin said slot and depressed on each side of the slot to clamp thediverging sides of the Y therebetween.

CARL W. MEYERS.

